£ 10-20k buying advice sought - 3200, 4200 or (sshh) 997

[dickygrace]

Lexus ISF. 5Ltr V8 with no horror stories.

Only horror story is how it looks....

 

[Contigo]

The 997 is way beyond pub talk. The percentage of cars that have required rebuild is around 20% which is ridiculous. Only applies to the standard engine though, not the Turbo or Mezeler GT engines.
.

Mezger!

 

[GeoffCapes]

Lexus ISF. 5Ltr V8 with no horror stories.

Au contraire! A good friend of mine has one. Loves it, however, he's spent about 6 grand in the last 18 months on getting stuff repaired!
He jokes that he should have bought a Maser as it would have cost less!

 

[philw696]

Ask Toyota how many recalls they have issued? Or maybe they are just more honest!

Toyota kept me in regular employment for 10 years taking me all over Europe on recall work.
Would say they are probably the most honest manufacturer out there.

 

[ChrisQP09]

Only horror story is how it looks....

haha seen one yesterday, horrid old thing.

 

[w1lde1]

I recently purchased the 4200 and went through the same dilemma as you and looked at the same motors.

Having now got a 4200 I am extremely pleased and can't recommend enough

My advice is if you get from a garage try and get 12 months warranty out of them even if it means paying a bit more


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stevepen]

Au contraire! A good friend of mine has one. Loves it, however, he's spent about 6 grand in the last 18 months on getting stuff repaired!
He jokes that he should have bought a Maser as it would have cost less!

Please let me know what he needed repairing. This will be the first example in the UK that has required a repair. It will help us other owners of what to look out for.

 

[stevepen]

haha seen one yesterday, horrid old thing.

I've had mine for 3 years and done 60k miles and never seen another one yet.

 

[urquattrogus]

Another director at work has just bought a 997 S.

Tempted to try and scaremonger and wind him up a little - but my better judgment says that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones!

I did say I had been more creative than him by buying "not a Porsche because everyones got one"



I test drove aa used ISF before getting the BMW and loved the engine and gearbox. The suspension was a bit too firm for day to day though.

 

[GeoffCapes]

Please let me know what he needed repairing. This will be the first example in the UK that has required a repair. It will help us other owners of what to look out for.

He's just gone on holiday so can't ask. But from memory it was suspension work, something with the gearbox, and something to do the cooling system, I know he replaced the radiator.

Could all be wear and tear items, but it was one thing after another for a while.

 

[davy83]

Err Chassis corrosion? i had to strip to the chassis and rebuild an S2 because the chassis disappeared, made from thin, unprotected tubular steel and unless you know to apply rust protection pretty much every year it just rots. Clearly once i knew about it it was not a problem and had that S and a Chimeara for 8 years and not really too many problems, nothing like the trouble i have had with the 3200 for sure. Oh except for the suspension bushes, and the electrical problems, and the boot, windows and soft top leaking, and the passenger door fibre glass separating into two pieces after a ned kicked it. Apart from that trouble free really.

You should frequent the TVR forums! I had two, for six years, no issues and certainly nothing like I was warned about.

 

[allandwf]

I had a Cerbera, chassis was good, bit scarred from stone rash on the outriggers, but if kept on top of, was ok. Then I had a Tuscan, chassis was clean. and could wipe down with a rag. In six years I had one burst coolant hose, a wheel bearing, and an intermittent LED display, all easy fixes, so no complaints.

 

[stevepen]

He's just gone on holiday so can't ask. But from memory it was suspension work, something with the gearbox, and something to do the cooling system, I know he replaced the radiator.

Could all be wear and tear items, but it was one thing after another for a while.

Thanks for the information. Suspension and radiator could be wear and damage but no documented evidence at Lexus for any gearbox problems. Unless it was repaired at an Indy.

 

[mr gill]

I have an aerokitted 2004 996 C4S, in 4 years it has only cost me a clutch, brakes, tyres and servicing. Much better looking than a 997 and as previously stated will hold value much better. Dont believe the "they will all blow up" rubbish, mine has done almost 90k and runs like a dream. I think i'm going to sell this year and buy a granturismo, just got to scratch that maserati itch!